Physical activity and overweight in children and adolescents using intensified insulin treatment

Abstract

Aim: To describe physical activity and inactivity and parameters associated with overweight in a population-based study of children and adolescents on intensive insulin treatment.

Methods: Physical activity and inactivity were evaluated in 723 type 1 diabetic subjects, 240 children aged 6–10 yr and 483 adolescents aged 11–19 yr, using a questionnaire that can estimate total amount of time spent on inactivity and light, moderate and vigorous activity.

Results: Overall, 54% of the participants do not fulfil the international recommendations of 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day. Girls are less active than boys in childhood (70 vs. 88 min/d, p = 0.01) and in adolescence (47 vs. 57 min/d, p = 0.02). Furthermore, this study shows that those who are more active are also those who seldom skip meals (p < 0.001). Forty-three percent of the participants watch TV for more than 2 h a day, and TV viewing was found to be related to overweight in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes [OR: 2.5 (1.40–4.54), p = 0.002]. No statistical differences in physical activity were noted between the different intensified insulin regimens. Patients wearing insulin pumps were not less active.

Conclusion: To increase physical activity to recommended level and limit TV viewing should be an important issue in education of all children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, independent of insulin regimen.